Have you ever dreamed with excitement about what you would like to happen?
Did you let your mind flutter around within those thoughts, exploring the possibilities associated with your dream?
Call it a vision or an insight into the future. Or since we are at the threshold of a New Year, call it a New Year’s Resolution.
As much as we might otherwise wish, dreams just do not happen overnight, some take months and a few may take years; nevertheless, in order to follow a dream we have to start somewhere. Slowly, but surely we need to develop a plan of action in order to reach a dream.
My dream for 2012 was to write and publish a book before the end of the year.
At first, it seemed like a mountain stretched out before me, I was afraid that I wouldn’t know if I could ever do it all or do it successfully. When I thought about it, I realized that other people wrote books and some were quiet good at it. Why not me? What did I have to fear except the fear of failure? My determination to try was greater than my wall of fear. I felt very passionate about writing my story and sharing it with others.
I faced the worst of my fears at the time when I put my fingers on the computer keyboard and began to type those first few words. Within a matter of days, I began to pick up speed and developed my storyline. Before long, I found myself lost in the old memories and those moments became hours as I was working through the rough chapters of the book. Many months later I finished writing and found a publisher. We went through all the editing, proof reading and long hours of decision-making, before my memoirs were finally published.
In the months that followed printing, I entered into another phase, a world filled with book signing tours, luncheons, speeches and loving every minute of it. This was a larger place than where my wildest imaginations fluttered in exploration, the book grew from a dream to a real world event with a life of its own.
So here it is, the end of 2012. I have taken the challenge, the dream of writing and publishing a book and telling a story that has been dear to my heart for years. I am proud of having stared at my fear head on and gone onto accomplishing something major in my life.
The beginning of the year was for my dream, NOW OR NEVER…..and you know what, I did it!!
Mary Ann Sheveland is a contributing blogger for JenningsWire, a blogging community created by Annie Jennings.